The Canuck Way
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Canucks: Projecting when defencemen prospects will make the team

By Owen Gibbs

CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 31: Utica Comets defenceman Brogan Rafferty (25) controls the puck during the third period of the American Hockey League game between the Utica Comets and Cleveland Monsters on January 31, 2020, at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 31: Utica Comets defenceman Brogan Rafferty (25) controls the puck during the third period of the American Hockey League game between the Utica Comets and Cleveland Monsters on January 31, 2020, at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Jett Woo

In the storm of information surrounding Vancouver’s many defensive prospects, Jett Woo’s name has often been conspicuously absent, almost as if he has been forgotten in a fanbase constantly scrutinizing the likes of Rafferty and Juolevi.

Much of this lack of attention has likely been due to Woo having a rather unspectacular follow-up to his exceptional draft-plus-one season in which he scored at a point-per-game pace. However, he has 33 points this season in only 48 games for the Calgary Hitmen, which is still an excellent total for a player more known for his physicality than his offence. Woo still has plenty of NHL potential, and he’s underrated as far as Canucks prospects go.

Unfortunately, all this makes it difficult to gauge when Woo will join the club on a full-time basis, but it likely will not be next season, not unless he can outperform Rafferty at training camp.

The spots on the right side that will be open to Rafferty next season will probably not be available to Woo in 2021. A year in Utica next season will give the Canucks and their fans a much better idea of what they have in Woo, and that will be a determinant of whether or not he can force his way into the lineup. That said, with the numbers that Woo has put up even in a down year, I can see him making the jump.

Prediction: 2021-22

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